Celebrating the Dawn of Mass Global Communication

An important centenary to be celebrated and re-enacted in New Zealand and UK
In October 2024, Radio Amateurs in New Zealand and the UK will be celebrating and re-enacting the very first trans-global two-way radio communication. Special callsigns will be active, and awards and QSL cards will be available for those who make contact with these special stations.

At the turn of the last century, radio communication was in its infancy. The properties of “Hertzian Waves” – what we now call radio waves – were only just beginning to be understood.

Starting with Marconi, the use of a crude form of radio communication began to evolve. The development of the thermionic valve then opened up opportunities both in radio transmitter and receiver design. However, the “conventional wisdom” remained that the longer wavelengths of radio signals (as used by Marconi) were those most suited to long-distance
radio communication.

(Image shows the Qsl Card from the 2014 event in New Zealand) Read More

The November Dxpedition to Rotuma are still seeking donations for their trip. If you feel you can make a donation to help this dxpedition be a success, then the link for Donations is at the bottom of this page – Thank you!

In the interest of bringing more young amateur radio operators into DXpeditioning, the Pacific Islands DXpedition Group, Inc. (PIDXG) and Youth on the Air (YOTA) Americas are pleased to announce a partnership involving the upcoming 3D2Z DXpedition to Rotuma in November.

Youth on the Air is a program for and by young amateur radio operators with the expressed goal of building skills and fostering lasting friendships and mentors with younger operators.

donate@rotuma2024.com

(Image subject to copyright)

***Operation cancelled***

A team of five UK ops will attempt to activate MM0UKI from the Flannan Islands EU-118 starting today (1st August 2024). The uninhabited island group is 20 miles (32km) west of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. It is 6^th ‘most wanted’ IOTA in Europe and 2^nd in the UK (after Rockall).

The team consists of Rockall DXpedition veteran Nobby G0VJG, John G4IRN, Paul G4PVM, Mike GM5AUG and Jamie M0SDV.

Travel is by car from their home locations to the ferry port in Ullapool (mainland Scotland). From there by ferry to Lewis and a private charter boat will take the team to Flannan.

The trip is weather dependent – departure to the island is planned for 1^st August, with the 2^nd being a contingency day. Activity will be on 40m to 6m SSB and CW from three stations and will continue until the first available weather window for departure on 4^th August or thereafter.

WAB square is NA74, QRA is IO68EG. QSL Manager for MM0UKI is Charles, M0OXO.

In 1944 the US Air Force (USAF) 438th Troop Carrier Group were based at RAF Greenham Common Airbase, near Newbury, Berkshire UK. This would be critical in transporting men of the US Army 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions in the build up to D-Day in June 1944. The airbase had over 400 of the Waco CG-4A gliders (figure 1), along with their Douglas C46 & C47 towing aircraft, and were used to carry troops, jeeps and munitions for the D-Day operation.

 

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Team Leader – We’re still negotiating the contracts for a DX-pedition to Bouvet Island. This DX-pedition will be a large scale operation with 20-24 operators and we are searching for 4-6 more CW/SSB operators to complete the team www.3y0k.com <http://www.3y0k.com/>.

 

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